Existential Series: Does Life Have Meaning?

The Problem of Meaninglessness

This is a question I hear over and over from my patients in therapy sessions in the course of the XXI century. It is particularly common to hear it posed by millennials. This is not to mean that other generations do not contend with these existential questions; but, millennials seem to be markedly prone to struggling with this existential question. Therefore, addressing these existential issues is a central piece to solve their psychological suffering. So, the clinical fact of the centrality of Meaning issues in therapy sessions, begs the question: Why do people in general should question the meaning of their lives? And, why this questioning of Life’s value has seemed to increase so massively in the young XXI century millennial generations?

The Importance of Answering these Questions For Our Sense of Happiness

The answer to these questions are essential for an individual’s well-being and psychological growth. This is so, as it is well known that when people do not find Meaning in their life, they find their lives to be Meaningless. And when life is perceived as “Meaningless,” Suicide appears as the only way out.

For these reasons, I believe Existential issues are a central topic for reflection and discussion. Thus, I am starting here a series of posts on Existential issues. I believe that, from a psychiatric point of view, resolving EXISTENTIAL ISSUES IS A GOOD PREVENTIVE MEASURE TO PREVENT SUICIDE IN ANY AGE GROUP–BUT PARTICULARLY IN THE YOUNG. In this series, it is then my intention to address these issues from different perspectives and to open up a participative discussion on such an essential topic for attaining happiness.

I believe that these existential questions are rapidly growing in frequency in today’s world. They are particularly frequent in the American social environment. This is most likely the result of the barrage of negative events that are thrown at us in our country and around the world day in and day out. In the midst of the rising economic crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, the growing social turmoil caused by racism, and the intensification of teh divisive ideological and political confrontations we live in 2020, these feelings of Meaninglessness in life have become truly epidemic.

In view of the spreading vitriol and hatred seen in our society, the unending family discord, and the growing social ties dissolution we see happening all around us, it is no surprise that a state of generalized social anomie should have been established in the XXI century and has become much more evident in the young.

The Concept of Social Anomie

Anomie is a social condition in which there is a disintegration or disappearance of the norms and the values that were previously common to the society. The concept of ‘anomie,” thought of as “normlessness,” was developed by the founding sociologist Émile Durkheim in the late XIX century. But, even if Anomie was beginning to show signs of its existence in society back then, it is a fact that social anomie has increased in American society in the course of the XX century; and this is a social phenomenon has grown with astonishing speed in the first decades of the XXI.

Given this state of growing social anomie in the US–and the constant barrage of negative events and news–coupled with the lack of strong community ties, loving and supporting relationships, and the loss of economic prospects pursuing careers and through hard work–it is no wonder millennials have come to question the meaning of life more than any other generation since the post World War II one.

The Issue of Meaning: An Exclusively Human Problem

Let’s start by affirming that the existential questions are an exclusive Human problem. You will never find your dog, cat, horse, or turtle pondering about the Meaning of Life and contemplating Suicide because life has no meaning for them. No animal has ever been known to struggle with Meaning or Existential issues. It seems that, on this planet, the only unadapted “animal” that grapples to make sense of his/her Existence, i.e., of the why he/she is here, is Human Beings. Animals simply EXIST and they DO NOT COMMIT SUICIDE. It is ENOUGH FOR THEM TO STAY ALIVE AND ENJOY THEIR EXISTENCE AS IT IS. For this reason SUICIDE IS UNKNOWN IN ANIMALS.

Now, Existential issues are not new to humans. They have been present in our thinking for millennia. These questions have been the matter of discussion of many a left bank Parisian cafe’s evening and the debate of philosophers, psychologists, and theologians throughout the ages. It is also true that–even though they have been present before–existential issues markedly increased in the aftermath of World War II. In the aftermath of the immense devastation of that war–that killed 70 million people and left most of the world in shambles–many people in the younger generations of those days turned to questioning the meaning of life. As a result, a group of intellectuals and philosophers in Europe–but predominantly in France–became known as the Existentialists. The most renowned among them were Jean Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, Albert Camus, Simone de Beauvoir, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty.

The main question posed by the Existentialists was then: Does Life have meaning? And if so, which one is it?

The Two Potential Answers to the Question of Meaning: “Transcendental Meaning” Versus “Personal Meaning”

Well, the answer to this question will vary according to the answer we give to a previous–and much more momentous one: Is there a God?

Well, according to how we choose to answer this first question, then we can be well positioned to answer the Existential Question of the Meaning of Life. If there is a God, then we can talk about “a Grand Plan” orchestrated by the Creator before the beginning of History for his creatures. In that case, He She or It (whichever you prefer) only knows what is the meaning of creating human beings; and, therefore, the meaning to life is Unknown, Transcendental, and Ultimate. This final meaning is a Mystery, and it can only be completely revealed to us humans after death in the After Life.

From the “God exists” perspective, there is Transcendental Meaning to Life, even though we may not know it or not be able to fathom it. From this standpoint, meaning–as the ultimate Transcendental Meaning–must be sought after outside of us. We must look for meaning–or find Meaning–and it must be discerned in the Will of the Almighty in whichever way we understand it. In this context, meaning is found in Prayer and Revelation. In general terms, that is the position of most religious beliefs. For religious people, Meaning is real, Transcendental, established by God. And Meaning can only be fulfilled by doing God’s Will on Earth in a Life Mission that will find its reward in the After life.

Most religions assert that there is a Deity and that that Deity created us and cares for us. They assert that everything that exists, exists for a reason. So it follows that if things exist for a reason, everything that exists has inherent Meaning. Only God, however, knows that ultimate Reason or Meaning for our Existence. And for Humans, the reason for our Existence may constitute what is known as a Mystery: the Mystery of the Will of God. But, most religions are based on oral tradition and ancient writings, such as the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, and many others. In those Holy Writings, believers find guidance as to what the Will of the Creator for humans is. So, believers extract meaning from the Sacred Scriptures and the Teachings of their Traditions, their religious organizations, and their Holy Books.

It is in following their religious teachings that believers find meaning in life and develop a sense of Mission. This “Mission” may vary according to the mandates of the different religions–but they are always present. These “meaningful missions,” however, must always involve others,i.e., the community at large. For this reason, there is no religious mission that is individual and completely personal. This position leaves the true believer well positioned to deal with meaning issues in life, as Ultimate Meaning is Not questioned by the believers. It is a given.

Suggested Readings on Religious Takes on Meaning

An example of seeking and finding meaning through this route is found in the excellent book by Pastor Rick Warren “The Purpose Driven Life,” which is a Christian approach to the question of Meaning in life. From the Jewish perspective, an excellent way to start seeking Meaning is with a book called “Search Engine: Finding Meaning in Jewish Texts” by Rabbi Gil Student. From a Muslim standpoint, a good book to begin your search is Maariful Hadith’s – “Meaning and Message of the Traditions”. Finally, from a Catholic perspective, a good book to consider when it comes to the search for Meaning in life is Alban Goodier ‘s “The Meaning of Life”.

Of course there are many more books than the mentioned above in all of these religious traditions, starting out with the fact that their Holy Scriptures are the main source of Meaning. And there are a myriad more religions to cover (in fact, as of this writing, there are about 4300 religions to choose from). In fact, there are so many that it is impossible to even begin to cover them all. Of course, I cannot review them all here and the seekers are invited to check them out and see which one fits them best.

In regards to the above mentioned books, they can be used in an ecumenical way. This means that people from different religions can benefit from reading these books on Meaning from other religious groups. This is the case as, for the most part, these writings tend not to contradict one another much. Religions are humankind’s collections of ancient Wisdom, so one can often benefit from the Wisdom acquired through millennia by other cultures in different geographical and historical locations.

Now, many of my patients in the XXI century do not adhere to traditional religious beliefs. In fact, many millennials are allergic to religion–regardless of what the religion of their parents and ancestors may be. So, some millennials are Agnostic (meaning they do not know whether there is a God or not and they leave the question unanswered). Some define themselves as “Spiritual” but not religious (meaning they believe in “Something Superior,” “an Intelligence or Force that organizes the Universe,” but they dislike organized religions because of their dogmatic doctrines, their strict mandates, and their intolerance of other religions’ views and people). And others are Atheist, i.e., they simply do not believe in the existence of a God. They believe exclusively in SCIENCE, CHANCE and EVOLUTION.

Achieving Personal Meaning Even If You Are Not a Believer

So, what is there left for the Agnostics and the Atheists when it comes to the question of Meaning in Life?

Well, from the perspective of the Agnostic–when it comes to Transcendental Meaning–it is a toss of the coin, given that they do not actively exclude the existence of God but they cannot confirm it either. But they are not exempt from the Quest from Personal Meaning. For the Atheist, on the other hand, Transcendental Meaning is not a possibility, given that if there is no GOD, it follows that there cannot be any Transcendental Meaning. We Humans are just the product of CHANCE and EVOLUTION. That is it.

The “Quest for Meaning” in the context of the materialist view on Existence has been the struggle of Atheist authors such as Heiddeger and Sartre. A good start for Atheists and Agnostics would then be to read Sartre’s “Being and Nothingness” (Although this is a long book and a very involved reading).

I consider that–from the non-believer’s perspective–the need for Meaning still applies in life. This is so, as Meaning is ESSENTIAL FOR OUR PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING. Now, in this case, we are not talking about Transcendental Meaning or Ultimate Meaning, but about Personal Meaning here on Earth and in this life.

In this case, the meaning situation is stated like this: We do not know why we are here or what we are here for, but it is an undeniable FACT THAT WE ARE HERE AND WE ARE ALIVE. We have been “thrown into existence” as Martin Heidegger would put it; and that very fact demands an answer from us as individuals. Our very Existence poses the question: You are alive, then, what are you going to do with this gift of life that has been bestowed on you? How are you going to make your life count? What can you do so that you get involved in this life, become enthusiastic about it, and thus find Meaning in it?

Finding Your Cause In Life

And, how can you bring a CAUSE into your existence?

A PERSONAL CAUSE is always UNIQUE. This is the case as we are all unique and unrepeatable events in human history. There is only one YOU. There has never been a you with your genes, your personal history, and your particular form of desiring before; and, once you have passed, there will never be another. That entitles YOU TO EXTRAORDINARY UNIQUENESS.

Question, what are you going to do with that Uniqueness? How are you going to put YOUR UNIQUENESS to work for your benefit and for the benefit of those around them? How can you find a personal meaning, by BRINGING MEANING INTO YOUR EXISTENCE as the late Dr Victor Frankl would put it?

Keep in mind that MEANING IS NEVER EXCLUSIVELY PERSONAL. MEANING ALWAYS INVOLVES A TASK TO CARRY OUT IN THE WORLD AND OTHERS THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM IT.

A CAUSE is a strong IDEA that you support with your DESIRE. It is at the same time an IDEAL that aims for and that involves others. Meaning is not narcissistic but Community-oriented.

Your MISSION can be: to improve your relationships, to lead a loving life, to live life more fully, to improve the Ecology of the world, to become involved in politics, to work to decrease racism and discrimination, to work to decrease social injustice in this world–or whatever you can come up with. From a personal standpoint, a final Personal Meaning can be achieved by following the advice of one of our most enlightened forefathers, Benjamin Franklin. He suggested that–in order to find our personal meaning in life–we should write our own epitaphs while we are alive and live our lives from there. In practical terms, this means that we should lead our lives in terms of Personal Meaning by “living life from the End” or, in other words, based on HOW WE WANT TO BE REMEMBERED AFTER WE HAVE LEFT THIS WORLD.

A Final Word on Meaning

Finally, I believe that whether you are a Believer, an Agnostic, or an Atheist, you will certainly benefit from reading the work of Dr Victor Frankl, whom I had the privilege of meeting in my early days in medical school in Buenos Aires. He was a truly extraordinary man and a survivor. He proved to us all that meaning can be found even in the most dire of life circumstances. This is the man who devoted his entire life and career to the study and importance of Meaning in life. This mission of his was the entire Meaning of his Existence. He got so involved in this pursuit of Meaning that he created a unique form of psychotherapy called LOGOTHERAPY (Therapy based on the attainment of Meaning). His first and most renowned book was written in 1946. It was called “Man’s Search For Meaning”. In that seminal book, he told the world of his experience about learning the importance of meaning in life while being a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp for four years. In your own search for Meaning, reading Dr Victor Frankl’s work is a MUST.